2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Brazil's lineup is weak without Kaka or Ronaldinho but Argentina's is STACKED!

Arqueros: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe, España), Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate) y Agustín Orión (San Lorenzo).
Defensores: Roberto Ayala (Valencia, España), Javier Zanetti (Inter, Italia), Nicolás Burdisso (Inter, Italia), Hugo Ibarra (Boca Juniors), Daniel Díaz (Boca Juniors), Gabriel Milito (Zaragoza, España), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United, Inglaterra).
Volantes: Luis González (FC Oporto, Portugal), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, Inglaterra), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter, Italia), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid, España), Pablo Aimar (Zaragoza, España), Juan Sebastián Verón (Estudiantes de La Plata) y Juan Román Riquelme (Boca Juniors).
Delanteros: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona, España), Hernán Crespo (Inter, Italia), Diego Milito (Zaragoza, España), Carlos Tevez (West Ham, Inglaterra) y Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors).


So it's Argentina-USA on Thursday night.. any predictions?
I say 4-0 minimum.

If you give me 4 goals I will gladly take that bet...

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Sowa

If you give me 4 goals I will gladly take that bet...

Heh I would but I'm poor fan that doesnt gamble.
US is sending a very young team it will be good experience for them.


GOALKEEPERS - Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach).
DEFENDERS - Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Dan Califf (Aalborg BK), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjaelland), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC).
MIDFIELDERS - Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburger SV), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Lee Nguyen (PSV Eindhoven), Ben Olsen (D.C.United). FORWARDS - Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Herculez Gomez (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution).

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Jesus! Talk about talent! Argentina is easily the favorite to win... I'm surprised they threw out all the stops for Copa... typically the big teams send their B squad and/or some young guys (and still win).

Argentina is just pissed off. They keep getting embarrased in World Cups and they haven't won the Copa since 1993. Brazil has won 3 since then including a final over Argentina in the finals on penalties in 2004.
They are determined to show the world their talent this time so they're sending a full squad.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Argentina is just pissed off. They keep getting embarrased in World Cups and they haven't won the Copa since 1993. Brazil has won 3 since then including a final over Argentina in the finals on penalties in 2004.
They are determined to show the world their talent this time so they're sending a full squad.

Argentina's problem in the World Cup is that their talent just doesn't mesh with the hard-nosed European styles of England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands or the Czechs. Though they are starting to breed destroyers too (Mascherano for one) so maybe that'll change. Spain and Portugal play a more Latin style and they run into issues too. Brazil seems to be able to overcome it though.

But I agree... they are definitely there to win, and to try and do so convincingly.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Heh I would but I'm poor fan that doesnt gamble.
US is sending a very young team it will be good experience for them.


GOALKEEPERS - Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach).
DEFENDERS - Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Dan Califf (Aalborg BK), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjaelland), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC).
MIDFIELDERS - Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburger SV), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Lee Nguyen (PSV Eindhoven), Ben Olsen (D.C.United). FORWARDS - Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Herculez Gomez (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution).

I like that there sending some of these guys...
highlights for me
1) Lee Nguyen - heard friends talk about him never seen him play supposed to be one of our future studs...
2) Feilhaber - see if he can continue his Gold Cup success
3) Wynne - blazing fast
4) DeMerit - plays in the EPL bout time he gets some int'l caps

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Argentina is just pissed off. They keep getting embarrased in World Cups and they haven't won the Copa since 1993. Brazil has won 3 since then including a final over Argentina in the finals on penalties in 2004.
They are determined to show the world their talent this time so they're sending a full squad.

Pretty much. Brazil always amazes me, they are the defending Champions and looking at their squad for this tournament they are mailing it in again. No doubt they will still destroy some teams they go up against. Maybe not in their grand style, but it will be great to watch.

Some of the more unknown players on Brazil's squad understand that they are auditioning for World Cup roster spots that are really hard to win over some of the more established guys (See Roberto Carlos, Robinho, Ronaldinho,etc.). That is some serious motivation. Just because there are few/no marquee players doesnt meant there isnt any talent coming along for the ride.

Argentina is fielding an unbelievably good team. I dont know how they got club clearances for even half of those players, but they are far and away the favorites. Unfortunately they are also notorious choke artists whenever the title 'favorite' is established.

This is going to be fun to watch.

As for Argentina - USA, in game 1, I would take a more conservative estimate of 2-0, or maybe 3-1. Argentina isn't going to blow them out of the park in the first game.

The USA should know that these guys will tear them to ribbons offensively if sufficiently motivated. Knowing this they should adopt a much more defensive strategy to start with. I they do, they have a good chance. If they think they're going to play the Run and Gun game with Argentina they're going to get slaughtered.

Locke.